Koshi Rice - Isbell Farm
England, ArkansasOur family farm grows Koshihikari sushi rice, the most coveted rice in the world.
Contact UsKoshi Rice - Isbell Farm
England, Arkansas
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Return Policy
We want you to be 100% happy with your order. We will replace or refund in the event the product arrives damaged or the product does not meet your expectations. You must contact us within 15 days of your order.Browse Local Producers
~The Most Coveted Rice in the World~
In Japan, it was a prominent belief for many years that Koshi could only be grown in Japanese Soil. In 1990, Isbell Farms successfully produced Koshi under the warm Arkansas sun of the central United States, putting to rest the centuries’ old myth. Served to the Emperor of Japan and enjoyed by the Japanese for years, Koshihikari remains the most coveted rice in the world.
"I have fallen in love with the precious samples of Koshihikari rice I was sent by an Arkansas farmer...Regardless of the price, I am going to stop hoarding and just start stocking up."
- Amy Sherman, Cooking With Amy
In Japan, it was a prominent belief for many years that Koshi could only be grown in Japanese Soil. In 1990, Isbell Farms successfully produced Koshi under the warm Arkansas sun of the central United States, putting to rest the centuries’ old myth. Served to the Emperor of Japan and enjoyed by the Japanese for years, Koshihikari remains the most coveted rice in the world.
"I have fallen in love with the precious samples of Koshihikari rice I was sent by an Arkansas farmer...Regardless of the price, I am going to stop hoarding and just start stocking up."
- Amy Sherman, Cooking With Amy
Our Story
In Japan, where rice is esteemed above all other foods, Koshihikari is the most elite variety of Sushi Rice. Set apart by its enticing aroma, smooth texture and mildly sweet flavor, Koshihikari has been perfected by the Japanese over the course of many centuries. In Japan, it was a prominent belief for many years that Koshi could only be grown in Japanese Soil.Shortly after we began marketing Koshihikari, we began to get phone calls. They haven't stopped since. Now there have been over 50 interviews by either Japanese TV, newspapers and magazines, as well as domestic newspapers and magazines including: The Wallstreet Journal, Barron's, Newsweek Japan, Focus, and a 90 minute television documentary on NHK, one of Japan's most famous TV stations.
-The Isbells
In the late 1980's, there were trade barriers in place that didn't allow American rice to be sold in Japan. With an eye to the future, however, Chris Isbell realized that if the Japanese were ever to buy rice from the United States, they would prefer to buy the type of rice they were accustomed to. When the trade barriers fell, he decided he would have the best Japanese variety available to them. This variety, he quickly learned, was Koshihikari. A major problem loomed. There was no Koshikari seed available int he U.S. nor was it possible to import it from Japan. While seed could not be imported, however, brown rice could. Knowing that a small percentage of brown rice would germinate under the right conditions. Isbell Farms imported a small quantity of Koshihikari brown rice from Japan and planted it on their Arkansas farm. In the spring of 1990, the first seeds of Koshihikari took root on Isbell Farms. It was and is possible to grow Koshihikari outside of Japan.
The best rice in the world…
Served to the Emperor of Japan and enjoyed by the Japanese for years, Koshihkari remains the most coveted rice in the world.
About Isbell Farm Isbell Farms is a multigenerational rice farm approximately 40 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas with 2300 acres of medium and short grain rice in production annually.
